An allusion is a reference to something else. It is used when you want to reference something that is well known. An allusion in songs is no different, it is a reference in the songs lyric that is well known.
Task
The song I have chosen is "something just like this" by Coldplay
I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths
Achilles and his gold
Hercules and his gifts
Spiderman's control
And Batman with his fists
And clearly I don't see myself upon that list
in this cut of the lyric, there's many allusion that is written.
1. Achilles and his gold - Achilles is the son of the warrior Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis and is known for his exploits during the Trojan War.
2. Hercules and his gifts - Hercules is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene and is renowned for the courage and incredible physical strength he utilizes to perform his famous 12 labors, which include the slaying of various monsters, like the Nemean Lion and the Hydra.
3. Spiderman's control - Spiderman is a superhuman figure whose power allows him to be a hero in a way that an ordinary person cannot. Perhaps it even demands it, as he attempts to adhere to the famous saying of Uncle Ben that “with great power comes great responsibility.”
4. And Batman with his fists - Batman is a superhero that has no power, but the unique circumstances of his training, ingenuity, wealth, and access to technology as head of Wayne Enterprises grant him the ability to perform heroic deeds beyond that of a regular person.
